Travel hamper

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a travel hamper which can fit into a suitcase, travel container, or the like, if necessary. It is wire spring loaded to have a compressed mode and an expanded mode, having handles and containing a plurality of dividers which can fold flat.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 16/109,059 filed on Aug. 22, 2018 which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patentdisclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent filesor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a travel hamper. In particular, itrelates to an improved travel hamper designed to maximize packingefficiency while traveling, and fit inside a travel container, ifnecessary.

Description of Related Art

When people travel, they generate dirty laundry, and they frequentlyreturn with both clean and dirty laundry with no way to separate them.In practice, most people just pack both the clean and dirty clothingtogether.

Hampers are well known in the art for positioning dirty clothes in thehome setting. They come in literally hundreds of shapes and sizes. Butthey tend to be a large size in order to be useful and are difficult orimpossible to utilize while traveling. A better way to deal with dirtyclothing while traveling is necessary. Essentially, travel with a hamperis just not currently done.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is the discovery that adapting a hamper to becollapsible that expands to the full size and packed down with clothesin it solves the problems associated with travel and dirty laundry asnoted above.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, there is a clothing hamper having aninside depth and also has an inside length, and width, defining an opentop perimeter, the hamper comprising:

-   -   a) a hamper rectangular outer portion having a bottom and having        a length and width side walls which define an open top        perimeter, the hamper rectangular outer portion being made of a        fabric material wherein each of the sidewalls are joined        together to form vertical corners;    -   b) a frame consisting of one or more wires positioned in a        spring loaded manner in opposite walls of the hamper,        rectangular outer portion to provide opposing forces to open the        hamper, rectangular outer portion to an open top perimeter        position; and    -   c) one or more compression straps positioned to compress against        the frame expansion wherein the compression straps extend        between at least two vertical corners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully expanded hamper.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the spring frame.

FIG. 3 shows the hamper in a compressed mode held in place bycompression straps.

FIG. 4 shows an optional rigid flat panel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compression straps extending betweentwo vertical corners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described indetail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of theprinciples and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detaileddescription defines the meaning of the terms used herein andspecifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the artto practice the invention.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as morethan one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or asmore than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to onlyclaiming the present invention with such comprising language. Anyinvention using the term comprising could be separated into one or moreclaims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is sointended.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, “an embodiment”, or similar terms means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the presentinvention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive ormeaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B, or C” means any ofthe following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C”. Anexception to this definition will occur only when a combination ofelements, functions, steps, or acts are in some way inherently mutuallyexclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustratingcertain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not tobe considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a presentparticiple of an operation indicates a desired function for which thereis one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, orapparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled inthe art could select from these or their equivalent in view of thedisclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to belimiting.

As used herein, the term “fabric” refers to a natural or unnatural dothor other material produced by weaving together cotton, nylon, wool,silk, polymer, or other threads. It can be a solid cloth material or itcan be an open netting type cloth.

As used herein, the term “travel container” refers to any kind ofcontainer designed as a travel container for clothing and personal itemsfor use in airplanes, or other similar type travel situations. While theterm “travel container” is used throughout the application, the term isnot meant to be limiting and should be understood to encompass manytypes of travel containers.

As used herein, the term “clothing hamper” refers to a rectangularclothing hamper having an optional lid, designed to be used alone orinside a travel container primarily to hold dirty clothes after theclothing is worn on a trip, or the like, though any use is contemplated.The clothing hamper outer portion and the lid will be manufactured of afabric material with a rigid frame that allows the hamper to have afirst mode that is compressed and a second mode that is expanded.Embodiments of fabric include cotton cloth, polymer fabric, and thelike. The fabric can be colored or not and, in one embodiment, can besemi-transparent allowing for viewing the contents. In one embodiment,the lid is transparent. The clothing hamper has, in one embodiment, fourwalls (rectangular). In this embodiment, the clothing hamper has fourvertical corners where each of the four walls are connected verticallyto form the rectangular shape.

As used herein, the term “frame” refers to a collapsible/expandableframe that is part of the hamper designed to support the hamperrectangular outer portion of the hamper and give it shape. In anembodiment, the frame consists of one or more wires positioned in aspring loaded manner in opposite walls (i.e., parallel walls) of thehamper rectangular outer portion to provide opposing forces to open thehamper rectangular outer portion and to open top perimeter position. Itcan also include bottom positioning to add stiffness to the bottom ofthe hamper. The wires and base provide outward pressure to enable thehamper to pop open to a fully open position and stand upright.

As used herein, the term “handles” refers to handles designed to eitheraid in removing the hamper or in carrying the hamper. The handles can beon the sides or at the top, for example. The handles can, in oneembodiment, fold down on the sides or fold down on the top of thehamper.

As used herein, the term “compression straps” refers to one or morestraps, cords, or the like, which are fit between at least two verticalcorners. In one embodiment, compression straps are placedcircumferentially and in another embodiment, they are placed across oneor more sides between vertical corners to hold it in an open or closedstate. The drawings will add further clarity to this definition.Compression straps are any type of strap which can compress the wallstogether of the clothing hamper, e.g., elastic or non-elastic belts,cords, and the like that can be tightened on one or more full sides orin one embodiment, circumferentially. In one embodiment, cords will beelastomeric cords. Upon tightening the one or more compression straps,the bag's walls tighten around any contents in the hamper.

As used herein, the term “dividers” refers to divider panels of thenormal type found in many containers, when the divider can be positionedin a number of positions to create compartments within the containerportion. The dividers can be fixed or removable and the compartmentsformed can be various sizes. The dividers can also fold down flat. Suchconstruction is within the skill in the art.

As used herein, the term “lid” refers to a lid designed to fit on thetop of the clothing hamper. The lid portion has a length and a width andother shapes that match the open top perimeter of the clothing hamperinsert and is designed to form a closed hamper when used on the top ofthe clothing hamper. The lid further comprises, in one embodiment, apivotal hinge which traverses essentially all of the width or length ofthe lid portion. In another embodiment, the lid removably mounts on thehamper using a lid mount adapted to receive the pivotal hinge. The lidcan have additional (one or more) hinges attached to the lid mount. Thehinge is generally made of the same or similar fabric to the clothinghamper insert.

As used herein, the term “stiff panel insert” refers to essentially flatpieces of stiff material, such as plastic, which can be used toreinforce the sides or bottom of the hamper.

DRAWINGS

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aclothing hamper 1 in the open expanded configuration. In this view, thehamper is rectangular. This rectangular shape represents what shape manytravel containers are at the present time and could fit inside such atravel container. The hamper rectangular outer portion 3 is made of aselected fabric such as solid cloth or netting. The fabric is supportedin the open position by spring loaded scissor frame 5 shown in FIG. 2which adds rigidity to the cloth and holds it in an open configuration.The hamper 1 has both an expanded and collapsed configuration. The framewould be mounted on all four sides in one embodiment. There are frameson four sides in FIG. 1 but the two sides are hidden in this view, butmirror the ones we see. This view shows optional lid 9 and compressionstraps 6. Optional divider 8 is also shown.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the spring loaded scissor frame 5. Itshows how a top portion of opposite sides is connected such that thehamper wants to be in an open position. It also shows bottom portion 5 awhich supports the bottom. Arrow 12 indicates the direction of forceapplied by the frame. Rigid panels, in this view, could be inserted infabric 3 of this view or 3 could represent the rigid panels on thesides, though panels could also be in the bottom.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of hamper 1 in a compressed state whichis held by compression straps 6. Optional handle 30 is also shown. Atravel container 31 is shown which the hamper is being inserted into.

FIG. 4 shows rigid flat panel 41 which can optionally be inserted inwalls or bottom of the hamper. A rigid panel aids in preventing bucklingof walls when the hamper is in the compressed state and aids inrigidness in the open state.

FIG. 5 is an alternate compression strap configuration. Clothing hamper50 is rectangular in shape and a front side 51 (though it could be anyof the four sides) has two vertical corners 52 and 53. In thisperspective view, right side 54 is shown. In this configuration, thereare compression straps 55 and 56 which are shown as a cord. Elastic ornot, straps 55 and 56 are positioned extending between vertical corner52 and vertical corner 53, thus extending over the entire front side 51.Upon tightening the straps, the bag's sides are compressed around thecontents of the hamper.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains maymake modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principlesof the present invention without departing from its spirit orcharacteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings.Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of thepresent invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims ratherthan by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while thepresent invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and thelike apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope ofthe invention as claimed by the applicant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothing hamper having an inside depth and alsohaving an inside length, and width, defining an open top perimeter, thehamper comprising: a) a hamper rectangular outer portion having a bottomand having a length and width side walls which define an open topperimeter, the hamper rectangular outer portion being made of a fabricmaterial wherein each of the sidewalls are joined together to formvertical corners; b) a frame consisting of one or more wires positionedin a spring loaded manner in opposite walls of the hamper, rectangularouter portion to provide opposing forces to open the hamper, rectangularouter portion to an open top perimeter position; and c) one or morecompression straps positioned to compress against the frame expansionwherein the compression straps extend between at least two verticalcorners.
 2. The clothing hamper according to claim 1 wherein there arehandles on the hamper.
 3. The clothing hamper insert according to claim1 wherein there are a plurality of dividers in the clothing hamperinsert which can fold flat during use of the hamper.
 4. The clothinghamper insert according to claim 1 which further comprises a lid.
 5. Theclothing hamper insert according to claim 1 which further comprises oneor more stiff panel inserts.
 6. The clothing hamper according to claim 1which is placed in a travel container.
 7. The clothing hamper accordingto claim 1 wherein the one or more compression straps is positionedcircumferentially.
 8. The clothing hamper according to claim 1 whereinthe one or more compression straps extend across one wall of theclothing hamper between two vertical corners.